Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/87

 Him, and  He  shall  be  a  comfort  in  my  cares  and  grief  " (see  Wisd.  viii.  9-16).  When  thou  takest  thy  rest, He  departs  not  from  beside  thy  pillow;  He  remains thinking  always  of  thee,  that  when  thou  wakest  in  the night  He  may speak  to  thee  by  His  inspirations,  and receive  from  thee  some  act  of  love,  of  oblation,  of thanksgiving;  so  as  to  keep  up  even  in  those  hours His  gracious  and  sweet  converse  with  thee.  Sometimes also  He  will  speak  to  thee  in  thy  sleep,  and cause  thee  to  hear  His  voice,  that  on  waking  thou mayest  put  in  practice  what  He  has  spoken:  "  I  will speak to  him  in  a  dream"  (Num.  xii.  6).

He is  there  also  in  the  morning,  to  hear  from  thee some word  of  affection,  of  confidence;  to  be  the  depository of  thy  first  thoughts,  and  of  all  the  actions which thou  shalt  promise  to  perform  that  day  to please  Him;  of  all  the  griefs,  too,  which  thou  offerest to endure  willingly  for  His  glory  and  love. But as He  fails  not  to  present  Himself  to  thee  at  the  moment of  thy  waking,  fail  not  thou,  on  thy  part,  to give  Him  immediately  a  look  of  love,  and  to  rejoice when thy  God  announces  to  thee  the  glad  tidings that He  is  not  far  from  thee,  as  once  He  was  by  reason of  thy  sins;  but  that  He  loves  thee,  and  would be beloved  of  thee:  and  at  that  same  moment  He gives  thee  the  gracious  precept,  "  Thou  shalt  love the  Lord  thy  God  with  thy  whole  heart  "  (Deut. vi. 5).

ever, then,  forget  His  sweet  Presence,  as  do the  greater  part  of  men. Speak to  Him  as often  as  thou  canst;  for  He  does  not  grow weary of  this  nor  disdain  it,  as  do  the  lords  of  the earth. If thou  lovest  Him,  thou  wilt  not  beat  a  loss what to  say  to  Him. Tell Him  all  that  occurs  to